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I’ve been a Dachshund sitter for 10 years. Whereas I sometimes watch different small canine, I select to specialize on this particular breed.
Why?
Effectively, there are various causes, nevertheless it’s primarily as a result of:
- I’ve been a Dachshund proprietor for over 20 years and I’m obsessive about the breed
- Dachshunds and have distinctive behaviors and traits that I perceive and cater to willingly
- I perceive that Dachshund homeowners usually deal with their canine like their “infants” and anticipate an nearly human degree of care.
Dachshund homeowners are sometimes very apprehensive about leaving their canine with a sitter and are nervous that their canine is doing okay with out them whereas they’re gone.
I get it. I’ve needed to depart my Dachshunds with a canine sitter occasionally once I journey.
Frankly, it’s excruciating.
I waffle between worrying they’re having a horrible expertise and inflicting plenty of frustration and envisioning them blissful, frolicking, and having fun with each minute of their “sleepover”.
The truth is someplace in between. I do know this as a result of I’ve watched round 100 Dachshunds over time.
I prefer to assume mine are particular. That they’re higher adjusted than most. That they’re completely behaved and don’t let a distinct scenario throw off their routine.
However I do know that could be a bit delusional.
I’ve had canine sitters report that “they have been nice” once I know my canine.
Actually, they don’t seem to be even nice the entire time at my very own home with me. Ha, ha.
Whereas I completely get the need of canine sitters to offer homeowners the impression that their Dachshund had a good time and a seamless expertise – as a result of who needs to depart their canine the place that they had a nasty expertise final time? – I additionally assume it’s essential to be sincere and set practical expectations.
So there’s a actuality verify on some issues that your Dachshund will probably expertise at a canine sitter’s home that your canine sitter could also be leaving out of the dialog (probably omission, not deception).
Sure, Your Dachshund is Careworn When You Go away
Whereas some Dachshunds are solely anxious for about quarter-hour, most are pressured for the primary few hours, and even the primary day, they’re away from you.
That’s regular, particularly for those who spend nearly all of your time with them, do business from home, take them with you wherever you go, or they’ve separation nervousness.
The worst case I’ve skilled lasted nearly every week. However the Dachshund regularly grew to become much less pressured every day.
It wasn’t that the Dachshund was a nervous basket case the entire time, he simply didn’t utterly settle till about 7 days in.
Your Dachshund Could Not Be Taking part in With Others
I get it – I prefer to envision my Dachshunds enjoying and having a grand ol’ time with the brand new buddies they meet on the canine sitters.
Or perhaps you’ve seen movies of canine enjoying with one another at your canine sitters home, so that you assume that your personal canine has “joined the celebration”.
The factor is, the inclination of a canine to play is exclusive to their persona.
Some canine don’t play with different canine in any respect, some will play provided that the opposite canine’s play type matches theirs, some gained’t play with one other canine till they’ve been in the identical home with them for no less than every week.
As a result of sitters solely watch a canine for every week at a time, many Dachshunds are individuals oriented and aren’t inclined to play with different canine, the prospect that your canine is enjoying whilst you’re away is lower than 50%.
In my expertise, solely about 20% of the canine that I watch commonly interact in play.
Your Dachshund Could Not Eat For the First Day or Two
When a canine is pressured, they’re unlikely to eat. Even when they’re extraordinarily meals motivated.
About 30% of the Dachshunds I’ve watched flip their nostril up on the first meal that I supply them.
As a result of there are a number of canine in the home, I can’t depart the dish of meals down for them to graze so I choose it up and supply it to them once more later.
If a canine nonetheless isn’t fascinated about consuming the second time that the meal is obtainable, I attempt to make it extra attention-grabbing.
I’ll attempt to hand feed them.
It’s shocking what number of canine will take meals from my hand however not eat it from the dish.
I’ll add some sprinkles of dried lung, liver, or meat-based canine treats that their dad and mom despatched with them.
In the event that they nonetheless gained’t eat their meals, I supply real-meat treats all through the day in order that they no less than have one thing of their abdomen.
Virtually all canine will eat on the second day they’re right here as a result of they’re hungry.
Your Dachshund Could Change Their Potty Habits
Whether or not or not it’s attributable to stress, or confusion a couple of new home structure or yard, some Dachshunds gained’t go potty for the primary day, even once I know they should go, or they could have an accident in the home.
It could sound gross – and I’ve been requested by homeowners how I might really feel if their canine peed in the home – however I don’t care if a Dachshund has an accident in our home.
I imply, in fact I do however I’ve additionally accepted that it’ll occur. It’s not a giant deal and I simply clear it up.
Typically, it’s partially my fault anyway.
The indicators a Dachshund provides when they should exit will be very delicate. And they are often very distinctive.
Till I’ve spent a while with a canine, I’ll miss their cues that they should exit.
And since my home is new to them, they could not perceive the place the suitable” door to “sign” at is positioned.
We Can’t Comply with Your Actual Routine
One in all my “specialties” is following a Dachshund’s regular residence routine as carefully as potential.
However that isn’t 100% potential.
My home is totally different. My routine is totally different.
As a result of I’ve 3 Dachshunds of my very own, I’m managing 4-5 Dachshund personalities at a time.
I can’t level out each element that may range however some widespread ones are:
- In case your Dachshund free-feeds at residence, that gained’t be potential at my home as a result of I can’t depart meals down the entire time.
- In the event you ship your Dachshund’s favourite toy, they could not get to play with it as a result of 1) I don’t need any fights over it and a pair of) I don’t need the opposite canine to destroy it.
- Their regular time for supper might change, as a result of I’ve to strike a steadiness between my schedule, when my very own canine anticipate their meals, and once you usually feed your canine.
Whereas it’s probably that your canine sitter will do all the things they’ll to maintain your pup’s routine the identical, particularly since that may make their job simpler, do know that all the things can’t go precisely the best way that you just do it… and your canine will likely be okay.
Closing Ideas
Like I stated, your Dachshund sitter probably isn’t leaving these items out to be misleading.
It’s simply that there are various causes these subjects might not come up or that the sitter needs you to really feel like your canine’s keep was straightforward and gratifying.
I get that. I all the time lean in direction of a “good report” once I discuss to homeowners after their Dachshund stays with me.
Nevertheless, I additionally assume it’s essential to be sincere and clear a couple of canine’s expertise in order that an proprietor could make a extra knowledgeable choice sooner or later or tackle any points that got here up.
In the long run although, there may be most likely nothing {that a} educated, skilled Dachshund sitter can’t tackle in order that your pup has a very good expertise.
In different phrases, know that there will likely be an adjustment interval on your canine and the sitter, however that your canine will likely be completely fantastic when you are on trip.
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